Got my knife in the mail yesterday for the renewal of the magazine's subscription. That thing is sharp and i got 12 blades to replace. Gonna order some books from eastmans here shortly.
got my havalon knife
- Thread starter pseshooter300
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Old Hunter
Banned
Drhorsepower
Veteran member
They sure are awesome aren't they? I am a little worried about durability of the knife itself, mine already is sporting a hairline crack around one side of the handle. It took 2 blades to skin and quarter a California bighorn sheep this year, I'm not sure i couldn't get the job done with 1 but I snapped the first one. I'm not real good about changing the blades yet, maybe I'm just a little nervous with my phalanges in tight quarters with surgical steel 
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Old Hunter
Banned
The blades will snap easy if you pry or twist them. I still use my time tested buck knife for any heavy work, and the Havalon for the rest.
Changing blades is another matter. I can do it by hand when everything is dry. I don't even like to do it then. A small pair of needle nose pliers is in my pack now. I like my fingers the way they are.
Changing blades is another matter. I can do it by hand when everything is dry. I don't even like to do it then. A small pair of needle nose pliers is in my pack now. I like my fingers the way they are.
Whisky
Member
I snapped two blades on an antelope last weekend. Not sure I'm too fond of my Havalon knives anymore for bigger game, will be giving them another go of course, as I got my second in the mail from Eastmans too. They still work great for cleaning birds, and work REALLY well for cleaning up meat once back at camp/house.
I was thinking more of using the knife for cutting the meat up definatly got to be carefull and i will get me some needle nose to keep in my pack
Vanish
Member
I used the Havalon knife on my bull elk this year. My wife and father also got to try it. Wow, so awesome for skinning and cleaning up meat. Just like OH said though, do NOT twist the knife, you'll snap the blade. Unfortunately, this means I will have to carry two knives.
For those of us who are knife sharpening challenged, these things are amazing. Not only did I use the knife for field butchering, I used it at home for processing, just because it made things that much easier. Probably going to order the fillet knife as well.
For those of us who are knife sharpening challenged, these things are amazing. Not only did I use the knife for field butchering, I used it at home for processing, just because it made things that much easier. Probably going to order the fillet knife as well.
Old Hunter
Banned
I've heard of guys doing two bulls on one blade. Not sure if it's true. Seems like a lot of cutting.
I just got back from Wyoming and we caped 1 and quartered 4 antelope with my Havalon Barracuta. We used one blade to quarter all 4, and put on a fresh one for the one we caped, it still has a real good edge on it. The other guys using it didn't break the first blade but did abuse it pretty good on bone joints. It did the job but isn't ideal for that work. We had a bone saw and hatchet available that worked much easier for that, I used them on my antelope. All in all it worked great, once I loaned it to the guy who shot the first goat everyone wanted to use it. It isn't clumsy as I was afraid a knife this large would be. I think I'll keep using the baracutta for butchering and get a piranta for caping. The fillet blades work great for fish and boning also. Clean-up is extremely easy too.
I think the baracutta will stay in my pack with a spare skinning and boning blade for future hunts, and I'll keep my Buck Crosslock with the S30V blade and saw on my belt for tougher jobs and non-game use.
I think the baracutta will stay in my pack with a spare skinning and boning blade for future hunts, and I'll keep my Buck Crosslock with the S30V blade and saw on my belt for tougher jobs and non-game use.
HuntWYODon
Very Active Member
Hey mcseal2,
Great lope buck you shot and loved all your other pics too ! So great animal's !
I got mine in the mail a couple days ago also. I was thinking the same thing that it would be good for caping. I would never just carry it alone. I also carry a Buck Crosslock. Have had it for many years and love it. It has always kept a good edge. I used it on 2 deer and 2 antelope in 2010 and was still sharp. I always carry two knives not matter what.I bet your Barracuta would work well on fileting those prehistoric catfish you are catching !
Muleys 24/7
Veteran member
I got one a few months before eastmans was giving them away, I started useing it on my antelope this year but went back to my buck knife as well , because the havalon was flimsy. I take the havalon on backcountry hunts, if I need to really save on wieght.......other than that I like something a little more, heavy duty. I would say the only benifit is the weight savings, the blades are a pain in the ass to change when your hands are bloody. Not to be to hard on havalon........but they're really a over priced razor blade.
Old Hunter
Banned
I don't know if you guys watch the Meateater on TV? The Piranta is all he uses for everything he kills.
I already got rid of mine. I don't care for the blade and how flexible it is. A guy could loose a finger if it broke. I used it on the wife's antelope and was not impressed. I went for my good ol Blade Tech to finish him up. Now that's a knife I love!
ckink65284
Member
I did not get along with the excessive flex either. It's great for foxes and coyotes, but I don't care for it on big game.
Thanks, glad you enjoyed the pics.
The baracutta works good on fish also. I just keep fish between 5 and 15lbs though, never tried it on a giant. Some of those fish could be older than me so I throw them back to keep getting bigger. I also read where a 40lb fish produces more eggs than eighteen 8lb fish so it helps keep the numbers up. I love to catch the giants, the only real big game around home is flathead and whitetail. I catch plenty of 5 to 15lbs fish that produce lots of meat per fish so I don't have to keep as many.
The baracutta works good on fish also. I just keep fish between 5 and 15lbs though, never tried it on a giant. Some of those fish could be older than me so I throw them back to keep getting bigger. I also read where a 40lb fish produces more eggs than eighteen 8lb fish so it helps keep the numbers up. I love to catch the giants, the only real big game around home is flathead and whitetail. I catch plenty of 5 to 15lbs fish that produce lots of meat per fish so I don't have to keep as many.
Murdy
Active Member
Vanish
Member
That too. We have good genetics and a good river for flathead to grow in. Lots of food for them.
